Pizza with ‘Papa’… Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney watches the Republican National Convention while playing with a few of his grandchildren from his hotel room on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 in Tampa, FL. (Photo – Evan Vucci/AP)

Heh.

If you’re sick of hearing leftists’ manipulative meme “Mitt Romney is cold and calculating; he needs to HUMANIZE himself”it was eviscerated at last night’s GOP National Convention:

If Barack Obama and David Axelrod had their druthers, every American voter would have a certain impression of Mitt Romney: An exceedingly wealthy, secretive, greedy robber baron, using his substantial means to identify and exploit small businesses — sucking them dry of capital, bankrupting them, and laying off all the hard-working employees, leaving a trail of human misery and destruction in his wake. After distributing those pink slips, he cackles and rubs his hands together while depositing his obscene profits into his off-shore bank account somewhere, then it’s on to the next victim. This is the cartoon liberals have painted of Romney, spending tens of millions of dollars on negative ads. It’s mean-spirited fantasy. Yes, Mitt Romney built an exceptional private sector career. Americans tend to celebrate that sort of thing. But he’s also a faithful, honorable, compassionate family man whose generosity and kindness hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention, at least until last night.

Three speeches during the closing session of the Republican National Convention shed light on the private deeds and values of the party’s nominee for president. I’d bet that the Romney’s weren’t thrilled by the prospect of airing their private (squeaky-clean) laundry for all the world to see because bragging about doing the right thing feels unseemly. But given the assault on Mitt Romney’s character and the consequential nature of the election, they relented and decided to allow others to sketch out those elements of Mitt’s life on his behalf. Kate touched on one of these speeches earlier. I cannot possibly share these vignettes any better than the speakers themselves. The hall was silent, and few eyes remained dry during these extraordinary testimonials.

Before we look at the videos, Byron York (Chief Political Correspondent for The Examiner) weighs in with an article titled “The most extraordinary story of the GOP convention“:

The portion of the program devoted to Romney’s religious service was enough to leave many viewers in tears — and with a higher opinion of Romney than they had before.

In particular, the program featured Ted and Pat Oparowski, a couple who lived in Medford, Massachusetts in the 1970s. They knew Romney from church, and when their 14 year-old son David was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in 1979, Romney visited the boy regularly. “They developed a loving friendship,” Pat Oparowski said, recounting the many times Romney came to see her and her son.

David Oparowski’s cancer was terminal. During one visit, Mrs. Oparowski recalled, “David, knowing Mitt had gone to law school at Harvard, asked Mitt if he would help him write a will. He had some prize possessions that he wanted to make sure were given to his closest friends and family. The next time Mitt went to the hospital, he was equipped with his yellow legal pad and pen. Together, they made David’s will. That is a task that no child should ever have to do. But it gave David peace of mind. So after David’s death, we were able to give his skateboard, his model rockets, and his fishing gear to his best friends. He also made it clear that his brother Peter should get his Ruger .22 rifle. How many men do you know who would take the time out of their busy lives to visit a terminally ill 14 year old and help him settle his affairs?”

“David also helped us plan his funeral,” Pat Oparowski continued. “He wanted to be buried in his Boy Scout uniform. He wanted Mitt to pronounce his eulogy, and Mitt was there to honor that request. We will be ever grateful to Mitt for his love and concern.”

It was an extraordinary story, seldom mentioned in the press, and it left many in the hall in tears. “You cannot measure a man’s character based on the words he utters before adoring crowds during times that are happy,” said Ted Oparowski. “The true measure of a man is revealed in his actions during times of trouble — the quiet hospital room of a dying boy, with no cameras and no reporters.”

Ted and Pat Oparowski:

Pam Finlayson:

Guy Benson concludes:

My eyes welled up again just posting these videos. I couldn’t help by feel pangs of profound compassion for these families, and genuine gladness that a man as fine as Mitt Romney was active in their lives to comfort and help them during their struggles. Where is the monstrous, avaricious, uncaring money robot we’re always warned about in these anecdotes? He’s nowhere to be found because he doesn’t exist.

Grant Bennet, who served as an ecclesiastical assistant to Romney when he served as a Bishop (lay pastor) in his church, also spoke at the convention:

Former MA Governor and Congresman Paul Ryan are now officially the Republican Party’s nominees for President and Vice President of the United States. (Photo – AP)

It’s official!

At 2:40 PM Pacific Time, in an exciting state-by-state (and territory) roll call at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL, Governor Mitt Romney received 2,016 votes to officially become The Republican nominee for President of the United States. By acclamation, Congressman Paul Ryan also officially became the GOP’s nominee for Vice President of the United States.

With 1,144 votes needed to seal the deal, New Jersey’s 50 votes – all of them – put Romney over the top. The roll call was halted so cheering, placard-waving delegates throughout the convention center could celebrate the milestone. It’s fitting that The Garden State did the honors since New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will deliver the keynote speech tonight.

In Governor Romney’s homestate of Michigan, his brother, Scott Romney read the vote count. It was a touching moment:

Hats off to those who planned the roll call; the entire event was exciting to hear and to watch. As each state delegation was called, changes took place on the many screens enfolding the stage. The state called was highlighted in 3-D red on a U.S. map on one screen, as a subtle ticker tape ran in the background featuring the state’s name. Other screens were awash with beautiful scenery from that particular state.

I’ve personally been waiting for this moment for over ten years. Ever since seeing the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, when I saw Mitt and Ann Romney give their all to save the games, I hoped they would someday be on this presidential path.

While tropical storm Isaac churns across the U.S. Gulf Coast into what is expected to be a strong Category 1 or 2 hurricane, formal events cancelled at the GOP convention today in Tampa, FL, afforded a plethora of opportunities for politicians, politicos and attendees to mingle.

The Romney brothers, in full force at the convention, are in high demand. They were interviewed early this morning by FOX & Friends’ Steve Doocy AND also later appeared on FOX News’ America Live with Megyn Kelly.

Here’s the FOX & Friends interview (video of the Megyn Kelly interview is at the end of this article):

Voight also spoke with The Daily Caller and lambasted the mainstream media for being Obama’s lap dogs:

“The media has been taken over by this administration,” Voight, an outspoken Hollywood conservative, said in an interview with TheDC. “It’s not less than what has happened in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez, really, because you can’t get the information through. I’m giving you this because I want to get the press my opinion. You can put it in any way you want to. But, it’s become pure propaganda and we should be appalled.”

“I mean look at the main media is not going to cover the Republican convention?” Voight added as an example. “This is propaganda, pure and simply. They say, ‘well, we’ll give them an hour.’ They’ll edit an hour – well, what will they edit out? What is the story they will tell? Do you understand?”

“Guys, you should be appalled,” Voight continued. “America, guys, wake up. You should be appalled that they can get away with it, that they can attack – the Republican Party is a victim of a bias, of a destructive bias against the Republican Party. It’s been going on for all this time and it’s getting worse and worse. And, now this? Come on, people, stand up.”

Voight is courageous and correct.

•Matt Romney was scheduled to address the Colorado delegation today (awaiting a report). He attended a Michigan delegate party last night in Tampa and his darling little daughter accompanied him. Here’s a photo of them at the get-together last night with MI Attorney General Bill Schuette:

The friendly crowd of 36 delegates and 33 alternates and their guests reacted positively to Matt Romney’s description of his father as gifted in solving problems at several levels, from fixes around the house, to complex private equity deals with Bain Capital, to the elder Romney’s reformation of Salt Lake City’s hosting of the Winter Olympics.

He also touted Romney’s budget surpluses during his single term as the governor of Massachusetts.

‘Omelets with Orrin’ was Josh’s destination this morning where he spoke to Utah delegates. The event was hosted by Senator Orrin Hatch:

TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney will survive “that meat grinder called a presidential election” and win in November, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch told members of the Utah delegation to the Republican National Convention at their first breakfast meeting Monday.

“I’m so proud of Mitt Romney,” Utah’s senior senator said at an “Omelets with Orrin” breakfast honoring his 36 years of service that included a rallying speech by Josh Romney, one of two Romney sons who lives in Utah.

Josh Romney, who lives with his family in Millcreek and has considered running for office in Utah, said the same enthusiasm voters had for Obama four years ago has been transferred to his father.

“I have yet to meet someone who says, ‘I voted for (2008 GOP nominee Arizona Sen. John) McCain four years ago and this time, I’m going for Obama,’ “ Josh Romney said. “The same thing President Obama had four years ago, we’ve got it now.”

Ari Fleischer also spoke to the Utah delegates.

•Ben Romney, the son we don’t get to see as often as the others due to his medical residency in radiology, spoke during a breakfast for the West Virginian delegates. Beth Myers, the capable force known for helping Governor Romney with his V.P. search, also attended.

•Craig Romney had the microphone at a breakfast meeting for Michigan delegates:

Craig Romney… recalled for the Michigan delegation to the Republican National Convention a story about Mitt Romney’s character.

As Mitt Romney took control of the troubled 2000 Olympics in Salt Lake City, he wanted to generate excitement by including new events, including skeleton — an event “like the luge” but you go face first (down the track) at 80 mph, Craig explained.

The producers of the “Today” show offered to put Romney on the air with host Katie Couric to talk about turning around the scandal-laden Games, if he learned how to do the skeleton, Craig said of his dad, the presumptive GOP presidential candidate who’s to be nominated here this week.

So Romney recruited the eventual gold-medalist to coach him because he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to drum up support for the Olympics.

“You can imagine he was terrified. He’s not exactly a thrill seeker,” Craig Romney said of his father… “He eventually learned to do the whole track.

“People saw this guy will literally do anything, including risking his own personal health, to make the Games a success.”

Newt Gingrich also spoke to the MI delegates.

Craig, who speaks fluent Spanish, is also featured in a Spanish-language radio ad which was released today.

The Romney brothers weighed in on their Dad’s run for the White House with FOX News’ Megyn Kelly:

Mitt Romney did a morning run-through of his all-important convention speech today at a New Hampshire high school auditorium (I imagine Ann rehearsed her speech, as well.)

When asked by a reporter if he thought the convention should be cancelled due to the hurricane, Governor Romney responded:

“Our sons are already in Tampa and they say it’s terrific there, a lot of great friends. And we’re looking forward to a great convention[.]” …

He said he hoped those in the storm’s path would be “spared any major destruction” but indicated there were no thoughts of canceling the convention in Tampa, where Isaac’s heavy rain had all but passed.

The Tampa RNC Convention Committee has released the full convention schedule for this week. As you may know, the events that were previously scheduled for Monday were all re-scheduled for Tuesday as a safety precaution due to Hurricane Isaac. The convention will still end on Thursday as previously scheduled with Governor Romney as the concluding speaker.

Below is the entire convention schedule in a nicely laid out table for your reference during the week. (In case you are wondering, the late night schedule is designed for prime-time viewing on the major networks.) The schedule is very long so I have hidden it below the fold. If you are viewing this from the home page of our website click the ‘more’ button to view the schedule.(more…)

Mitt Romney came to Birmingham, Alabama last night and held a stellar fundraising event … leaving town with a cool $2,000,000 from me and my fellow Alabamians.

Reports are that this is the largest fundraising total for any Alabama political event. Held at The Club, which overlooks downtown, Romney held a VIP photo reception, followed by a general reception, and tied things up with a dinner.

Cool flash effect on my License plate while overlooking downtown Birmingham from The Club. Taken during the record-setting Mitt Romney fundraiser on August 15th, 2012

“The median income for a family has dropped $4,000 in the past four years,” Romney said. “Gasoline prices have doubled. Food prices are up. Health care prices are up. Utility prices are up. People in middle income families are getting crushed and one out six Americans are now living in poverty.

“He is out of ideas. He is out of excuses. And we need to make sure in November we put him out of office,” Romney said to a surge of applause from supporters.

… the crowd included an all-star lineup of the state Republican party. Romney was introduced by U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, after the crowd was warmed up by U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey. Gov. Robert Bentley was there as was former Gov. Bob Riley. Lee Styslinger, CEO of Altec, Inc., hosted the event.

US Senator from Alabama, Jeff Sessions, introduced Mitt Romney at The Club in Birmingham, AL

My wife posted to her Facebook page that the atmosphere was “electric,” and she hit the nail on the head! Mitt had the crowd going, and there were 3-4 times as many people present as at a similar fundraiser held at the same place almost exactly one year ago, last August, which we also attended. The crowd was timid then, as the GOP nomination was being hotly debated and two southerners, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich were on the rise. In stark contrast, there was no timidity there tonight! These folks are excited to see Romney and Ryan take over the White House and were showing that with their enthusiasm and their pocketbooks.

More from the article above:

Romney cited numerous examples of how individuals, in business and politics and society can make a difference. He saluted Lech Walesa, the Polish labor leader who stood up to the Soviet Union and went on to become president of Poland. He gave a nod to Alabama, mentioning Rosa Parks and her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus leading to the arrest that helped spark the civil rights movement.
“It is remarkable the impact that one person can have,” Romney said.

And it is the collective activity of individuals free to pursue their ambitions that makes the U.S. economy the envy of the world, Romney said, not government planning.

“Our economy runs on freedom,” Romney said. “That is how it works.”

So, Vice President Biden, do you think the man who singles out and praises Rosa Parks at a private GOP fundraiser in Alabama “wants to put y’all back in chains” !?!?! Time for Vice President Ryan, eh?

One other tidbit, not mentioned in the article, is that Mitt said he met recently with Condoleezza Rice (final VP vetting interviews possibly?!?!) and she shared a story with him of the important role one person can play. This individual courage was displayed by an old Romanian woman in a rally crowd who called her authoritarian dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, a “liar” and started a revolution. As detailed in her book “No Higher Honor,” Dr. Rice (an Alabamian, by the way) recounts:

A view of beautiful downtown Tampa, Florida where Republicans will converge for the GOP National Convention on August 27 – 30, 2012.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus today heralded a second round of speakers to participate in the GOP National Convention August 27-30. Prieubus has stated that the RNC and Romney camp have a great working relationship and are coordinating together to “make a truly memorable and momentous event.”

A notable quartet of speakers: Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, 43rd governor of Florida and current chairman of the Foundation for Florida’s Future; Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, the first woman to serve as both Oklahoma lieutenant governor and governor, and the first woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma since the 1920s; U.S. Senator Rand Paul, junior senator from Kentucky and founder of the U.S. Senate Tea Party Caucus; and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, 2012 presidential primary candidate, U.S. Senator (1995-2007), and U.S. Representative (1991-1995) from Pennsylvania.

“I am thrilled to announce Governor Bush, Governor Fallin, Senator Paul and Senator Santorum will address our convention,” said Priebus. “As our party unites around Governor Romney, these four great leaders will lend their voices in support of his vision to get America back on track.”

“Governors Bush and Fallin, and Senators Paul and Santorum are among our party’s most respected leaders, and their participation at the Republican Convention will help generate enthusiasm for Governor Romney’s plans to strengthen our economy,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris.

★ Former Governor Jeb Bush

“This election comes down to a fundamental choice – between Mitt Romney’s commitment to business innovation and job growth and the president’s record of government taxation and takeovers. This choice comes at a critical time for our country. We are facing tremendous challenges and our response to them will determine the course of our nation for generations to come. There is a lot at stake for us in November and that is why I am proud to support Governor Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States and I look forward to being a part of his nomination at the Republican National Convention in my home state of Florida,” said Jeb Bush.

★ Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

“The election this November is about much more than politics. It is a decision we have to make about the direction of America – are we going to continue to tax and spend and grow government far past the point of sustainability, or are we going to restore fiscal sanity to Washington, D.C. and force government to live within its means? In Oklahoma, we work to make government serve the people and not the other way around. Our next president has to share this same commitment and that is why I am so proud to be a part of the Republican National Convention to officially nominate Mitt Romney,” said Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin.

★ U.S. Senator Rand Paul

“In the past four years, we have seen the national debt soar at the hands of failed Democrat policies. We are nearing a fiscal cliff and are in desperate need of a change of direction. Whether it is Obamacare, Dodd-Frank or the EPA’s war on coal, American jobs and growth are being stifled by the current policies. I believe Governor Romney would help our country start a new path, where job creators are encouraged not punished, and where the size and scope of government are brought under control. I am honored to speak about our Republican vision for the future at the national convention in Tampa,” said Senator Rand Paul.

★ Former Senator Rick Santorum

“I am so passionate about this election because the core principles of our country are at stake. The Republican National Convention is an important time for us to rally behind Mitt Romney and his vision to put our country back on track. We need a leader in the White House who is committed to reforming government. Republicans believe that removing the incentive to work will destroy welfare reform as we know it, costing taxpayers millions and leading the poor to a life of dependency. The contrast between President Obama and Mitt Romney could not be greater. Conservatives from across the country are rallying together and we will make our voices heard in a few weeks in Tampa,” said Senator Rick Santorum.

Governor Romney kicks off a mult-state bus tour this Saturday which will take him to Florida on Monday. He is expected to stop in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami.

Stay tuned for additional convention speakers, including the illustrious keynote speaker, to be announced in the coming days!

Drum roll please… The speakers are:
★ South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, first female governor of South Carolina, youngest sitting governor in United States

★ Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, 44th governor of Arkansas, 2008 presidential candidate, NY Times best-selling author, radio and television show host

★ Ohio Governor John Kasich, former House Budget Committee chairman

★ New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, first female Hispanic governor in U.S. and first female governor of New Mexico

★ Arizona Senator John McCain, party’s 2008 nominee, now serving fifth term in U.S. Senate

★ Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, America’s 66th secretary of state and first African-American female to hold the position

★ Florida Governor Rick Scott, from convention host state

“We are proud and excited to announce these outstanding leaders will address the nation during our convention in Tampa,” said Chairman Priebus. “They are some of our party’s brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles. Ours will be a world class convention, worthy of the next president of the United States, and these speakers-and those that will be announced later-will help make it a truly memorable and momentous event.”

“I’m honored to be invited by Governor Romney to address my fellow Republicans at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, but especially grateful for the opportunity to explain to my fellow Americans why this election provides the most stark contrast of political platforms in American history. Four years ago, we were promised an economic recovery and the creation of millions of jobs, but have now seen the longest period of record unemployment since the Great Depression. We were promised that the sacred institution of marriage would be protected, but now we have the first president in history to support changing the nature and definition of marriage. We were promised that faith would guide these decisions, but instead we have seen a full frontal assault on the conscience and convictions of religious liberty by insisting that this new government run health care system include forcing churches, colleges, hospitals, and businesses to bow their knee to the Baal of the federal government. I will do all I can to help Mitt Romney become our president,” said Mike Huckabee.

August 6, 2011 - Texas Governor Rick Perry gives a thumbs up as he takes the stage at 'The Response', a televised Texas prayer meeting held in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

■ At Thursday’s presidential debate in Tampa, FL, Governor Perry doubled down on his support for discounted tuition rates for illegal immigrants:

Perry, on an in-state tuition break for illegal immigrants: “I still support it greatly.”

PERRY: “If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they’ve been brought there by no fault of their own, I don’t think you have a heart. … This was a state issue. Texans voted on it. And I still support it greatly.” (Governor Rick Perry, GOP Presidential Candidates Debate, Orlando, FL, 9/22/11)

■ At the University of Texas, illegal immigrants are given a tuition discount approaching $100,000 over a normal four-year period:

Tuition costs at the University of Texas at Austin are more than three times higher for out-of-state students than for in-state students.. For the 2011-12 academic year, in-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at the University of Texas at Austin are reported to be $9,794. For out-of-state students, tuition and fees are reported to be $32,506. The annual difference is an estimated $22,712 and the difference over four years is an estimated $90,848. (U.S. News & World Report, National Universities, 9/22/11)

The Washington Post: More Than 32,000 People Have Taken Advantage Of The “Texas DREAM Act “The Texas DREAM Act has given tuition breaks to more than 32,000 students attending state colleges. The law also sparked a national movement to pass a federal version, which has been championed by President Obama and became a bitterly contested issue that failed in Congress last year.” (“Perry’s Immigrant-Education Stand Draws Fire,” The Washington Post, 9/23/11)

■ What would Governor Perry’s tuition discount look like in Michigan?

University Of Michigan – Ann Arbor: Nearly $100,000 Per Student Over Four Years. For the 2011-2012 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Michigan are reported to be $12,590 for in-state students and $37,265 for out-of-state students. The annual difference is an estimated $24,675 and the difference over four years is an estimated $98,700. (U.S. News & World Report, National Universities, 9/24/11)

Michigan State University: More Than $75,000 Per Student Over Four Years. For the 2011-2012 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees are reported to be $12,203 for in-state students and $31,148 for out-of-state students. The annual difference is an estimated $18,945 and the difference over four years is an estimated $75,780. (U.S. News & World Report, National Universities, 9/24/11)

■ The day after the presidential debates, Romney spoke at CPAC and had this to say about Perry’s comment that those who disagree with providing in-state tuition to illegals have “no heart”:

“Governor Perry said that if you don’t agree with his position on giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, then you don’t have a heart. I think if you’re opposed to illegal immigration, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a heart. It means you have a heart and a brain. Legal immigration is good for America. Illegal immigration is something I will stop if I’m president.” –Governor Mitt Romney

During the debate Romney told the audience that the discount “makes no sense,” and on Friday said it was a plan that “cannot be sustained.”

The conservative commentariat spoke with near-unanimity Friday on Rick Perry’s debate performance: The Texas governor didn’t just lose, he bombed.

There was no election-ending gaffe or singularly disqualifying remark. But his second consecutive weak outing set off alarms on the right, where too many cringeworthy moments raised questions about Perry’s durability, his seriousness and ability to compete on a stage with President Barack Obama. Worse, after a near-flawless August rollout fueled his rise in the polls and quieted critics who fretted about the quality of the GOP field, Perry’s nationally televised face-plant revived dormant talk — and hopes — about the possibility of new candidates entering the race.

With almost no one willing to defend a performance marked by meandering or inaccurate answers, botched canned lines and the damaging adoption of the left’s critique of conservatives on immigration, it’s hard to imagine how things could have gone much worse for Perry Thursday night.
[...]